12.27 Race Displays Hurdle 2m

A competitive four-year-old hurdle to kick off proceedings, with four of the seven runners having already got off the mark in this sphere. The Willie Mullins-trained Blood Destiny impressed when winning at Cork last month but there is likely more substance to the form of Nusret, who drops in class for Joseph O’Brien after finishing a safely-held third to Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Jazzy Matty will bid to provide Davy Russell with a winner on his first ride back since revising his retirement plans, and the Gordon Elliott-trained youngster may well be worth watching with a view to the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

SELECTION: NUSRET

Next best: Blood Destiny

1.02 Peter Nolan Equine Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 2f 110yds

An open affair that may go the way of well-bred newcomer Mystic Sage for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. This five-year-old mare by Sageburg fetched €40,000 as a store and hails from a useful family, being a half-sister to Listed winners Mystic Theatre, Castra Vetera and Morello Royale. De Bromhead heads to Fairyhouse having struck with two of his last six runners.

Of those with experience, the 109-rated Splashing Out shouldn’t be far away for Eoin Griffin after a near-miss at Limerick last month, while the Peter Fahey-trained A Law Of Her Own should appreciate stepping up in trip after finishing fourth behind Liberty Dance at Thurles when last seen over just shy of two miles.

SELECTION: MYSTIC SAGE

Next best: Splashing Out

1.37 Philip O’Connor Memorial, Lifetime Friend Of Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle 3m

Despite having to shoulder top weight, recent Limerick maiden hurdle winner Corbetts Cross could prove the one to beat for Maxine and Eugene O’Sullivan. A novice who is clearly in a good place at present, he now makes his first start in the colours of Cheltenham Festival-winning owner Paul Byrne and may well prove better than an opening mark of 130. This point-to-point and bumper winner looks open to further improvement.

Rebellious Gale, a rock-solid third at Punchestown last month, is entitled to be on the premises again with just 10st 3lb to carry, while Eye Van needs respecting after belatedly opening his account at the 11th attempt at Down Royal last month.

SELECTION: CORBETTS CROSS

Next best: Rebellious Gale

2.12 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade A) 2m 1f

Willie Mullins has rattled the crossbar by saddling the runner-up in this €80,000 prize for the last two years, but his luck could be about to change as he holds leading claims this time around with talented two-mile chaser Mt Leinster. The Closutton maestro’s runners tend to improve from their first starts of the winter, so against that backdrop it was an encouraging return to action for Mt Leinster when third in a similar event over this course and distance six weeks ago.

Michael O’Sullivan’s 5lb claim will be a valuable asset to last year’s winner Dunvegan, given his mark of 158 requires him to carry top weight, and Cayd Boy is a major player at the opposite end of the handicap for Liz Doyle and owner J.P. McManus. A bad mistake four fences from home here last time behind Mt Leinster seriously dented Cayd Boy’s claims, and there’s every chance his rating of 135 is one that could be exploited.

SELECTION: MT LEINSTER

Next best: Cayd Boy

2.47 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1f

Flame Bearer looks set to make it six wins in the space of nine runnings of this race for Willie Mullins, despite having disappointed when sent off 8/15 favourite to make a winning introduction for the champion trainer at Naas last time.

Expect a sharper and fitter version of the former Pat Doyle-trained eight-year-old, who won twice at Grade 2 level in novice hurdles last season and chased home State Man in the Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at the 2022 Punchestown festival. Dropping in trip from two and a half miles should be in his favour too.

With just five runners going to post, this doesn’t look an overly deep contest and Highland Charge appears the likeliest candidate to trouble the selection. A Grade 3-winning novice hurdler last term, he’s entitled to come forward from his chasing debut when a well-beaten third behind the exciting El Fabiolo here 24 days ago.

SELECTION: FLAME BEARER

Next best: Highland Charge

3.22 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase 2m 5f 121yds

Having faced the unenviable task of tackling the relentless Dysart Dynamo at Leopardstown over Christmas, Sea Ducor should appreciate the step into calmer waters as he moves up in distance for his first start beyond 2m1f. That move should help his jumping at a likely steadier tempo.

Trained by Arthur Moore and carrying the colours of Chris Jones, he reached a decent level over hurdles that few of his rivals would have been able to match, including a rare defeat of Galopin Des Champs in November 2020 when the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite was making his Irish debut.

Must Be Obeyed and Innovated both won on their latest starts and remain open to improvement as unexposed chasers. Bay Ambition is without a win for almost three years but it wouldn’t be a major surprise if she outran her odds in conditions that suit her well.

SELECTION: SEA DUCOR

Next best: Bay Ambition

3.57 Racing Again January 19th (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m

Of the 67 individual horses that Willie Mullins has run in domestic bumpers this season, the record-breaking trainer has won with an impressive 43%. Such strong returns mean his unraced representative Westport Cove must be seriously respected in the concluding contest on Saturday’s card.

A five-year-old by Muhtathir (sire of Envoi Allen and James Du Berlais), the Cathal Hughes-owned newcomer boasts a useful pedigree as the first foal out of a French listed-placed winner over hurdles from the family of dual graded winner Roi Des Francs. Mullins also won this race with Cheltenham Festival winner Stattler in 2020.

Gordon Elliott, who sent out subsequent Grade 1 scorer Gerri Colombe to win this bumper in 2021, hands a racecourse debut to £30,000 point-to-point purchase Ossifer Hops.

The biggest threat to the selection could be the Noel Meade-trained Faulty, who faded into third close home at Down Royal last time after looking the likeliest winner.

SELECTION: WESTPORT COVE

Next best: Faulty